Iowa board says Prairie Meadows records can be secret

Prairie Meadows casino in Altoona does not have to abide by the state’s open records law since it no longer owes debt to Polk County, the Iowa Public Information Board ruled Thursday.

The Des Moines Register sought an opinion from the information board after the casino, which earlier this year lost its federal nonprofit status, declined to release records pertaining to contracts of its top executives. The casino's board is appealing the IRS decision on its nonprofit status.

The casino had contended it no longer has to abide by the state’s open records law because of a definition of “government body” in the law.

Nonprofit groups whose facilities or “indebtedness” are supported in whole or in part with property tax money are required to abide by the records law.

The casino, which operates from a facility owned by Polk County, no longer owes debt, the casino noted.

The Register argued “indebtedness” is a broad term used in other sections of Iowa law to reference general liabilities or risks the public holds in relationship to a facility. The casino’s actions could directly and adversely affect taxpayers, thus maintaining “indebtedness,” the newspaper argued.

The newspaper also argued that legislative intent calls for transparency, and noted that Iowa requires the casino to abide by the state’s open meetings law.

There were no dissenting votes in Thursday’s decision from the members of the Iowa Information Board, which cited a 1996 harassment case involving the casino. The Iowa Supreme Court concluded in that case that a “symbiotic relationship” did not exist between the casino and government.

Carol Hunter, executive editor of The Des Moines Register, said Thursday the paper is considering whether to appeal the board’s decision.